Tongue scraper and cleaner



Jan. 10, 1933. c. E. SHANLEY 1,893,524,

TONGUE SCRAPER AND CLEANER Filed May 13. 1932 invenTor. Catherine E .Shonley b /wz W4 A1Tys..

Patented Jan. 10, 1933 PATEN TI OFFICE CATHERINE E. SHANLEY, F ALL'STON, MASSACHUSETTS TONGUE SCRAPER AND CLEANER Application filed May 13, 1932. "Serial N0. 611,044.

'This invention relates to a toilet article which is designed for use in scraping or cleaning a persons tongue and one of the objects of the invention is to provide an 5 article of this'type which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, and which is easy to use and also effective in operation.

The tongue of the ordinary individual frequently becomes coated as it is termed. Such coating usually consists of a mucous substance which may gather on the tongue from various causes. Sometimes this mucous coating is the result of a cold, sometimes it is the result of secretion caused by indigestion and sometimes it results from other causes.

hen mucous collects on the tongue it is inevitable that a certain amount of food particles will be retained by the mucous so that the final coating on the tongue is a combination of the mucous gathering and the food particles retained thereby.

The mucous which gathers on a persons tongue from whatever cause represents something which nature tends to throw off from the body and it is, therefore, desirable for health reasons that such mucous coating should be eliminated. Mouth washes are sometimes used for this purpose and while a mouth wash may tend to dissolve or remove the mucous yet it does not always completely do so. Moreover, if any of the mouth wash is taken internally the mucous material dis solved by the mouth wash will be taken into the stomach and thus into the system.

In order to provide a means for effectively removing the coating which accumulates on ones tongue I have devised a novel tongue scraper herein disclosed. This tongue scraper has a general U shape when in use so that it can be readily inserted into the mouth and the ends are conveniently shaped to be grasped by the thumb and fingers of the hands. The scraping edge of the implement is preferably curved slightly to fit the top and sides of the tongue and the implement is more or less flexible so that it is easy to bend it into a shape to conform to the tongue with the result that not only the top but the sides of the tongue can be efiectively scraped. The. device is used by :thus bending it into 160 In order to give an understanding of the invention I have illustrated inthe drawing aselected embodiment thereof which will now be described after which the novel features-will be pointed out in'the appended luloid, .or metal, or rubber composition or composition known to the trade as bakelite, etc. The tongue scraper, which is indicated generally at 1, is formed with the central active or scraping portion 2 and, with the end grip portions 3. The centralscraping portion will be relatively thin and preferably' (although not necessarily) flexible and resilient. The central portion 2 is formed with the concave to'ngue-scrapingedge 4 and the implement is narrowest at its central portion.

The end or 'rip portions .3 are preferably thickened slightly and are somewhat Wider in order to provide a sufficient extent 'of surface to enable the operator to easily grasp 8 said grip portions. The side faces of these grip portions are preferably formed with indentations or recesses 6-which may receive the thumbs and fingers as shown .in Fig. 1 when the device is being used.

If the device is made with a resilient body portion then it may be originally constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, as a straight strip .of material havingthe rela-' tivelythin and narrow central portion and the wider grip portions.

In. using the device the operator grasps the grip portionsbetween his thumbs and fingers as shown in Fig. 1 and bendsthe body portion into the U shape. Being quite fle x- 9 ible-this body portion can be bent into a U shape having a greater or less width and thus can be given a shape to fit the mouth of the person :using the implement.

the U shape and then inserting the implement into the mouth with the scraping edge in position to engage the tongue. The operator places the curved portion toward the back of the tongue and in engagement with the top of the tongue and then draws the implement forward thereby performing the scraping operation. Since the edge 4: is concavely curved it will engage not only the top but the sides of the tongue as well. Furthermore, since the central portion of the device is quite flexible it is possible to manipulate the ends 3 of the device so as to cause the scraper to engage different parts of the tongue with more or less pressure. The resilient character of the central portion of the scraper and the position and formation of the grip portions provides a construction by which the operator can very easily sense the proper amount of pressure to use on either or both sides to secure the desired scraping operation without injuring or scoring the tongue.

Because of the above-described sensitiveness of the instrument it is one which is Well adapted for use by a layman who is not necessarily skilled in the use of surgical instruments.

The device is made with a relatively smooth surface and without corners, projections or deep pockets which cannot be easily kept clean. Hence the device is an exceedingly sanitary one because of the ease with which it can be sterilized after each operation.

As herein shown the device is provided with an aperture 7 in one end to enable it to be hung on a hook or nail when not in use.

The shape and size of the instrument is such that even when it is placed in a carrying case it takes up relatively little room and can be easily carried in the pocket.

I claim:

1. A tongue scraper comprising a thin strip of flexible resilient material which by its resiliency normally assumes a straight shape but which can be readily bent and twisted into a U-shape of variable widths and configurations, one edge of said strip constituting a tongue scraping edge.

2. A tongue scraper comprising athin strip of flexible resilient material which by its resiliency normally assumes astraight shape but which can be readily bent and twisted into a U-shape of variable widths and configurations, one edge of said strip constituting a tongue scraping edge, the ends of the strip being provided with finger holds.

3. A tongue scraper comprising a thin strip of flexible resilient material which by its resiliency normally assumes a straight shape, but which can be readily bent and twisted into a U-shape of variable widths and configurations, one edge of said strip being concavely curved in the direction of its length and constituting a tongue scraping edge, the ends of the strip being wider than the central tongue scraping portion thereof and provided with finger holds by which the tongue scraper may be grasped.

4. A tongue scraper comprising a thin strip of flexible resilient material which by its resiliency normally assumes a straight shape, but which can be readily bent and twisted into a LE-shape of variable widths and configurations, one edge of said strip being concavely curved in the direction of its length and constituting a tongue scraping edge, the ends of the strip being wider than the central tongue scraping portion thereof and provided with finger holds by which the tongue scraper may be grasped, the side faces of the finger holds having finger receiving depressions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

CATHERINE E. SHANLEY. 

